Folding mechanism



H. HOWE FOLDING MECHANISM Oct. 11, 1932.

Filed Nov.

INVENTOR. 1914,9040 Hancs/ /V ATTflNEY.

Patented Oct. 11, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAROLD HOWE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOB To HOWE FOLDING FURNITURE INC,

OFITEW YORK, Nrt- FOLDING MECHANISM Application filed November 12, 1931. Serial No. 574,510.

My invention relates to a folding mecha nism for card tables, banquet tables, benches, beds and other articles.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a folding means whereby the folding and unfolding movements of the supporting legs of the article are automatic in that the movement of any one leg results in immediate synchronous movement of all the other legs.

Another object of my invention lies in the provision of such a folding means which involves the use of pivoted link members connecting certain of the legs of the article through the means of a movable common pivot member whereby such synchronous movement is made possible.

Still another object of my invention lies in the provision of a: folding means for two oppositely disposed pairs of legs, said pairs being connected by link mechanism having a common movable pivot member whereby movement of one pair is transmitted to the other pair.

A further object of my invention includes the provision of a guide means for the movable common pivot member, said guide means being disposed. at an angle to the direction of movement of the legs.

A further object of my invention is to provide a synchronizing mechanism for the. legs which includes two pairs of links connecting the legs, each pair being provided with a common movable pivot, said common pivot members being guided in their movements and arranged to move away from each other when the legs are unfolded and to move towards each other to a position substantially centrally of the supporting surface when the legs are folded.

Other objects and advantages in details of construction and operation will be apparent as the description proceeds, reference now being had to the figures of the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application and wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a card table embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a detail sectional view illustrating the guide means for one of the pivot members.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view illustrating one type of table to which my invention is especially applicable.

This invention is a modification of the invention set forth in my application copending herewith Serial No. 574,509 filed Nov. 12, 1931, folding mechanism.

It should be clearly understood at the out set that the folding mechanism herein illustrated, described, and claimed has a wide and varied application to many articles of furniture and the like which it may be desired to fold. For illustrative purposes only the in vention has been applied to a table such as a card table but it will be clear that the same is equally applicable to banquet and other types of tables, benches, luggage stands, beds,

andmany other articles.

Referring now specifically to the figures of the drawing, the reference character 1 refers to a supporting surface which may comprise thetable top, and which is provided around its edges with the frame members 2. Hinged at two opposite sides of the supporting surface 1 and adjacent the frame members 2 thereof, as at 3, are the cross pieces 14 and 5.

Rigidly secured to the cross piece 4 adjacent each end thereof, are the legs 6 and 7. Rigidly secured to the cross piece 5 adjacent its ends are the legs 8 and 9. It will be noted with reference toFigure 1 that the legs 8 and 9 are disposed inwardly from the ends of the cross piece 5 so as to lie within the legs .6 and locked against movement.

vided with a depending flange 20. This guide member 19 is positioned at an angle to the direction of movement of the legs and for illustrative purposes is shown positioned at substantially right angles to such direction 2 of movement.

The flange 20 of the guide member 19 is provided with two aligned and longitudinally disposed slots 21 and 22, their inner ends terminatingin spaced relation substantially centrally of the guide member. Slidably mounted in the slot 22 is a pivot member 23 provided with an angular flange 24 through which passes a pivot pin 25 upon which are pivoted the opposite ends of the links 11 and 15. The pivot member 23 is provided with a pin 26 extending therethrough and through the slot 22 in the flange 20 whereby sliding movement of the pivot member is provided for in such slot and longitudinally of the guide member 19. The end of this pin 26 projectingthrough the slot 22, receives a nut 27 which provides a fastening means for a spring catch member 28 thus mounted upon and slidable with the pivot member 23, and on the opposite side of the flange 20 therefrom. y

This spring catch member 28 is provided at its opposite ends with bent finger pieces 29 and adjacent its ends with openings 30 and 31. It will be noted particularly with reference to Figure 1, that when the legs 6 and 8 are in unfolded position, the pivot member 23 will be positioned adjacent the outer end of the slot 22 and in such position the opening 31 of the spring catch 28 will engage over a pin 32 on the flange 20 thus locking the legs in this unfolded position.

Slidably mounted in the slot 21 is a pivot member 33 provided with an angular flange 34 to which are pivoted as by the pin 35 the inner ends of the links 13 and 17. The pivot member 33 is provided'with apin 36 extending through the slot 21 whereby the pivot member is guided in its slidingmovement in said slot. The extending end of the pin 36 may be shouldered as at 37 adjacent the flange 20 and has its extreme end reduced for engagementwithin the opening 30 in the end of the spring catch member 28 when the pivot member 23 is moved inwardly to the dotted line position shown in Figure 1. Ohviously in this position, the foldedposition of the legs, the pivot members are releasably It will be clear that by virtue of the links 11 and 15 being pivotally connected at their inner ends through the medium of the pivot member 23, the adjacent legs 6 and 8 of the opposite pairs are thus connected and therefore foldable synchronously, movement of one pair being communicated to the other by means of said link connection. Likewise the link connection 1317 between the legs 7' and'9, by virtue of the pivot member 33,

similarly insures synchronous movement between the'pairs of legs. It will be obvious that either of the pairs of links 11 and 15 or 13 and 17 provides this operative connection between the pairs of legs and obviously if desired one set of links may be omitted although with both sets of links, the free and easy and smooth movement of the pairs of legs is insured.

In referring to the legs 6 and 8 as being adjacent legs and also the legs 7 and 9 as being adjacent legs, it is intended to distinguish the connected legs of the opposite pairs. It will be noted with reference to Figure 1 that when the legs are in folded position, the legs 6 and 8 are closely adjacent each other as are legs 7 and 9.

It vwill also be obviousthat the pivot members 23 and 33 are so disposed on the guide member 19 that the pivotally connected ends of the links 1115 and 1317, cause the said sets of links to form angles between the connected adjacent legs of the opposite pairs. This angle is maintained in greater or less degree in both positions of the legs and duri L ing the movements thereof toward and away fromfolded position. This insures instant and smooth operation of the legs and of course,.results in the movement of any one leg being transmitted, by virtue of the cross pieces 1 and 5 and the links 11, 15, 13, and 18 to all of the other legs.

Thespring catch 28, being guided by and slidable with the pivot member 23 provides a locking means for the folding mechanism in both of its extreme positions, namely, when the legs are folded and when unfolded.

The arrangement of the link members is such that upon the movement of the legs to folded position, the pivot members 23 and 33 move towards each other to a point substantially centrally of the guide member and of the supporting surface 1 and when the legs are moved to unfolded position, the pivot members move outwardly away from each otherrto the position shown in full lines in Figure 1.. Y

By this construction I have provided a simple and easily operable folding mecha nism for articles of furniture and the like, the same being of few parts, economical to manufacture and easily assembled.

.Of course, changes may be made in details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I do not limit myself, therefore, to the exact form herein shown and described other than by the appended claims.

I claim:

ably mounted on said guide member, links pivoted at one end to one leg of one pair and the adjacent leg of the other pair, said links being pivoted at their opposite ends to one of said pivot members, other links pivoted at one end to the other leg of one pair and the adjacent leg of the other pair, and said other links being pivoted at their opposite ends to the other of said pivot members, said pivot members being so arranged on said guide member as to move away from each other when said legs are moved to unfolded position and towards each other when said legs are moved to folded position.

2. Folding mechanism comprising a sup- .u porting surface, two pairs of legs pivoted thereto, the legs of each pair being connected for common movement and said pairs being foldable toward and away from each other, a guide member on said surface positioned between said pairs and at substantially right angles to the direction of movement of said legs, two pivot members slidably mounted on said guide member, links pivoted at one end to one leg of one pair and the adjacent leg of the other pair, said links being pivoted at their opposite ends to one of said pivot members, other links pivoted at one end to the other leg of one pair and the adjacent leg of the other pair, said other links being pivoted at their opposite ends to the other of said pivot members, said pivot members being so arranged on said guide member as to move away from each other when said legs are moved to unfolded position and towards each other when said legs are moved to folded position, and said links and pivot members being so arranged as to form angles between said adjacent legs in all positions thereof.

3. Folding mechanism comprising a supporting surface, two pairs of legs pivoted thereto, the legs of each pair being connected for common movement and said pairs being foldable toward and away from each other, a guide member on said surface positioned betwen said pairs and at substantially right angles to the direction of movement of said legs, two pivot members slidably mounted on said guide member, links pivoted at one end to one leg of one pair and the adjacent leg of the other pair, said links being pivoted at their opposite ends to one of said pivot members, other links pivoted at one end to the other leg of one pair and the ad j acent leg of the other pair, said other links being pivoted at their opposite ends to the other of said pivot members, said pivot members being so arranged on said guide member as to move away from each other when said legs are moved to unfolded position and towards each other when said legs are moved to folded position, said links and pivot members being so arranged as to form angles between said adjacent legs in all positions thereof, and releasable locking means for looking said pivot members against movement when said legs are in unfolded position.

4. Folding mechanism comprising a supporting surface, two pairs of legs pivoted thereto, the legs of each pair being connected for common movement and said pairs being foldable toward and away from each other, a guide member on said surface posi tioned between said pairs and at substantially right angles to the direction of movement of said legs, two pivot members slidably mounted on said guide member, links pivoted at one end to one leg of one pair and the adjacent leg of the other pair, said links being pivoted at their opposite ends to one of said pivot members, other links pivoted at one end to the other leg of one pair and the adjacent leg of the other pair, said other links being pivoted at their opposite ends to the other of said pivot members, said pivot members being so arranged on said guide member as to move away from each other when said legs are moved to unfolded position and towards each other when said legs are moved to folded position, said links and pivot members being so arranged as to form angles between said adjacent legs in all positions thereof, and releasable locking means for locking said pivot members against movement when said legs are in both folded and unfolded positions.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

HAROLD HOWE. 

